Chaotic football is ready to ensue on Championship Sunday.
It’s an NFC East showdown and the latest chapter in the Patrick Mahomes–Josh Allen rivalry.
Let’s study how each of the four starting quarterbacks and their defenses got here.
Quarterbacks
- Jalen Hurts – seeking second Super Bowl appearance in three years
- Jayden Daniels – seeking to be the first rookie quarterback to make the Super Bowl
- Josh Allen – seeking his first Super Bowl appearance and first MVP
- Patrick Mahomes – seeking a three-peat
Jalen Hurts
Hurts against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday:
- Converted three passes on seven third-down attempts
- Threw against seven or more defenders in coverage 20 times and completed 11 passes
- Took what the defense gave him and completed four check-down passes
https://twitter.com/Eagles/status/1881071729474146373
In this early-game clip, Hurts keeps it himself, making the perfect read on the Pro Bowl rookie Jared Verse. He has the strength to break two tackles en route to the end zone.
It’s a zone counter (each of the offensive linemen blocks a particular area), and both the guard, Landon Dickerson (#69), and tackle Jordan Mailata (#68) pull outside.
Dickerson completely walls off an angle on a defender, and the play is so good that Mailata does not even need to engage with a defender downfield.
Jayden Daniels
Daniels continues to play lights out against the blitz. His 90.3 QBR against the blitz puts him in the top three among quarterbacks in that category.
Daniels against the Detroit Lions’ 16 blitzes on Saturday:
- 12 completions
- 191 yards
- 1 touchdown
Here is a highlight reel of the rookie beating Detroit’s blitz packages:
And when the Commanders’ offense is down to its last down, Daniels has answered the call.
In two playoff games, Daniels has converted four of six fourth-down attempts.
Daniels also can show that when he’s not blitzed, he can complete passes against seven in coverage.
This play is a “box and one” with man coverage on the Commanders’ best weapon, Terry McLaurin, and zone coverage everywhere else.
Daniels zips a perfect pass over two defenders in coverage, Deion Jones (#45) and Antoine Winfield Jr. (#31).
Patrick Mahomes
Mahomes against the Houston Texans on Saturday:
- Converted two passes, including one touchdown on seven third-down pass attempts
- Blitzed seven times and completed six passes
- Three passes that went 20+ yards
The three-time Super Bowl champion’s best play in the Divisional Round:
He has amazing arm strength to throw a perfect touchdown pass while being tackled. He also uses his eyes to move Azeez Al-Shaair (#0) away from his intended target.
Josh Allen
Allen against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday:
- Of his 16 completions, 12 came out in less than two seconds.
- Threw against seven or more defenders in coverage 16 times for 13 completions.
- On third down, he converted two of four rushing attempts, including one touchdown; on one fourth-down attempt, he converted it with his legs.
There’s the saying, “It’s not the X’s and the O’s, it’s the Jimmies and the Joes.”
That can certainly be applied to Allen here. As the graphic above shows, Buffalo has displayed excellence in fourth-and-short situations.
It’s a designed quarterback run in an empty set (with only the QB in the backfield) to spread out the defense.
The left tackle, Dion Dawkins (#73) pulls, Allen follows him and uses his mobility to easily pick up the first down.
The best of the best are set to dual on Sunday with history on the line. And the cool thing about it? No matter who wins, history will be made.
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